Raider basketballer marching with the Saints

Portland senior Kelsey Spitzley signs to play college basketball at Aquinas next season

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By ANDREW ROBERTSandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

Ionia Sentinel - Standard-Ionia, MI

By ANDREW ROBERTSandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 9:33 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 9:40 PM

By ANDREW ROBERTSandrew.roberts@sentinel-standard.com

Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 9:33 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 9:40 PM

PORTLAND

Raider girls basketball senior Kelsey Spitzley made her college choice official Friday night by signing her National Letter of Intent to play at and attend Aquinas College next winter.

The four-year varsity player said she is relieved to have the decision made and is looking forward to playing for the Saints in 2013.

“It was stressful determining where to go,” she said. “But I like that

Aquinas is close to home and has a small campus.

“I also liked how the coaches’ focus is more on academics than sports.”

Spitzley is the 10th player from the Portland girls basketball program to sign with a college team in the last nine years.

“This is exciting for us and the program,” Raider coach Ray Kimball said. “We have had quite a few quality kids play at the next level.

Spitzley said she is happy to be part of that elite group.

“It’s pretty cool to be part of the tradition,” she said. “I wanted to be part of that and it is something I will be able to look back on and be proud of.”

Along with Aquinas, Spitzley also received interest from Concordia (Ann Arbor), Marygrove College (Detroit) and Ohio Dominican (Columbus).

Saints coach Linda Nash said she is excited to have Spitzley as part of her 2013 incoming freshman class.

“Kelsey comes from a program in Portland that is built on fundamentals," she said. “Coach Kimball told me about her and when I saw her play for the first time in Mt. Pleasant, She showed the fundamental skills we look for.

“One of our sophomores (Allison Heberlein) played for Lansing Catholic in high school and when she saw Kelsey’s name on our recruiting list she was excited and really wanted us to sign her. When Kelsey called me (to give her verbal commitment) I was quite happy.”

Now that the recruiting process is behind her, Spitzley said she is looking forward to concentrating on her final year of basketball, and finishing her high school academic career strong.

“Now I can focus on excelling in basketball and with my grades,” she said.